Report from our 2024 Conference

Tea at Mephisto’s is unique in academic conferences in that it is well-rounded. It offered a unique balance of both academic and practicing lecturers, as well as rituals.

Walking in, I did not know what to expect. I had been to a meeting of the EuropeanSociety for the Study of Western Esotericism and am a member of two lodges of research, so I based my expectations on that. I have lectured in 4 countries, on two continents; I have even been the Keynote Speaker for the 2023 annual meeting of the Illinois Lodge of And considering that I was going in as a lecturer, I really did not know what to expect.

When I finally arrived on Friday, I found a genial, but intelligent, obviously educated group of people. There was nothing of snobbery, simply intellectuals passionate about their field of study. The first night consisted of the Welcome, as well as the Opening Lecture. The evening also included the opening receptions for the tarot exhibition from the collection of Pavel Langer and the painting exhibition by Lenka Táborská. And the evening ended with dinner and a concert by Klastracinski/project. This certainly was different from anything I had been to before.

Saturday and Sunday were the meat of the conference. Over the course of these two days, there were fifteen more lectures, mine included. These lectures covered the spectrum of esoteric practice and scholarship. There was something everyone to learn from. And the conversations between sessions and at dinner built upon the seeds sown during the lectures. And this is where the conference shined.

Topics ranged from Freemasonry to Thelema, from the Eleusian Mysteries to sleep paralysis, and various other topics. Lecturers and participants discussed different esoteric paths from various angles.

The spirit of the conference was one of collaboration and coeducation. Neither education nor learning, but coeducation, which is rare. There was no dogmatism present, simply academics and practitioners who came together to enrich themselves and those others who were present so that each walked away with having been exposed to a perspective to which they previously had no exposure.

The conference did not only consist of lectures, there were also rituals – tea ceremonies both mornings and afternoon demonstrations of esoteric rituals. This conference fed the mind and the soul.

When it was all said and done, everyone walked away with a deeper and, at the same time, broader understanding of modern esotericism. By wedding the theoretical, the practical, and the social aspects if esotericism, Tea at Mephisto’s gave the participants a unique opportunity for individual and collective growth.

John J. Meek

Report from our 2023 Conference

On October 27th to 29th, 2023, an extraordinary event took place at the Jiří Mahen Memorial - a conference dedicated to the exploration of occultism and alternative religious movements, titled "Happy Hour VIII". The event was unique both in the professionalism of its content and the friendly atmosphere that permeated the entire three days. Participants from six different countries had gathered to share the latest findings from their research and practices, exchange experiences, and connect with like-minded colleagues. Despite the diverse backgrounds and affiliations of attendees, the entire gathering exuded warmth and a sense of community.

Notable guests included Professor Jiří Hanuš, the Vice-Rector of Masaryk University, as well as esteemed international visitors such as Professor György E. Szönyi from the University of Szeged, Mgr. Dell Rose from the University of Amsterdam, and Dr. Marion Vrbicky from Vienna.

As the Jiří Mahen Memorial's capacity was fully utilized with 62 in-person attendees, the official program was also broadcast online through platforms like Facebook and YouTube. On Saturday, 300 viewers tuned in to watch the lectures. This live stream and the conference's openness to the public were innovative in comparison to what is common at similar events. Additionally, a rich array of side activities was available, including tea ceremonies, explorations of Brno's underground, and thematic dance performances by the Friday Dancers group.

Throughout the weekend, participants had the opportunity to attend 17 lectures, partake in 2 tea ceremonies, explore topical locations in Brno during a guided city tour, and savour culinary delights lovingly prepared by one of the organizers, Inka Shanna. The conference was also supplemented with an exhibition "Contemporary Czech Occultism in Artifacts", curated by Petr Kalač from the Documentation Center of Czech Hermeticism, complemented by impressive canvases and sculptures by artist Lenka Táborská.

Jan Ševčík, the main organizer, the manager of the Jiří Mahen Memorial, and a historian, already foresees building upon this Brno’s new burgeoning tradition in the next year. The most significant change for the upcoming edition, compared to this year, will be a new name Tea at Mephisto's. The "Happy Hour" label was lent to the conference by the Documentation Center of Czech Hermeticism as a sponsorship, until the new conference establishes its identity. The conference was made possible thanks to the support of the Jiří Mahen Library, which provided the venue and technical support, the Historia Europeana association, which assisted with administrative arrangements and promotion, and the dedicated efforts of organizers Ondřej Varaďa, Veronika Šulcová, Markéta Oskeruše, Pavla R., Marcela Staňková, and, last but not least, Olga Čejková, who facilitated the collaboration with the Jiří Mahen Library.

As we look ahead towards the years to come, we wish the conference a continuing success and an ever-growing community of enthusiastic participants.

Hana Lišková